Solar powered electric kick scooter

ABSTRACT

A solar powered electric motorized scooter is provided for use with a battery, the solar powered electric motorized scooter comprising a base, a flexible foot pad which has a margin, the margin attached to the base, a plurality of flexible solar cells mounted on the base, an electric motor which is in electrical communication with the flexible solar cells, a front wheel, a back wheel, the wheels rotatably disposed on the base and in motive communication with the motor, a steering tube rotatably mounted to the base and attached to a bracket that retains the axle of the front wheel and a handlebar, which terminates the steering tube, wherein the flexible foot pad is configured to flatten under the pressure of a rider and to curve upward when not under pressure of the rider.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 63/228,836 filed Aug. 3, 2021, entitled SOLAR COLLECTOR. The above-identified priority patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present technology is a solar powered electric scooter with a flexible foot pad that includes flexible solar cells. More specifically it is a solar powered electric scooter with a foot pad that is flat when pressure is exerted and is curved when pressure is removed.

BACKGROUND

Recently, electric kick scooters (e-Scooters) have grown in popularity with the introduction of scooter-sharing systems that use apps allowing users to rent the scooters by the minute. These have been introduced in large cities around the world.

Electric kick scooters usually have two hard small wheels, with a foldable chassis. Some kick scooters have three or four wheels, or are made of plastic, or are large, or do not fold.

New ride-sharing systems have made electric scooters easily accessible, especially after companies began offering dockless electric kick scooter sharing services. They are popular in urban areas and are used as an alternative to bicycling or walking. Ride sharing companies first started dropping these scooters off in large cities, and the need for short distance easy access transportation in many cities has meant that they have become increasingly popular.

Electric kick scooters need recharging at base stations or to be charged by gig workers, private contractors who sign up to become “Juicers”; the scooter rental company sends approved Juicers charging equipment and pays them to charge scooters overnight then place them at designated “Hubs” throughout the company's service area in the morning. Juicing can become competitive, with Juicers in some markets using vans and other creative means to pick up scooters all over the city.

What is needed is a solar-powered electric scooter that maximizes the capture of the sun's energy. It would be preferable if the design did not interfere with the rider's position. It would be further preferable if the scooter had a flexible foot pad that lies flat when the rider is on the scooter and which is curved when the rider is not on the scooter. It would be preferable if the curvature of the flexible foot pad provided improved absorption of the sun's rays.

SUMMARY

Provided is a motorized stand-up scooter that uses an electric motor powered by a battery which is recharged by automated adjustable solar cells located on the flexible foot pad of the scooter.

The present technology is a solar-powered electric scooter that maximizes the capture of the sun's energy. The design does not interfere with the rider's position. The scooter has a flexible foot pad that lies flat when the rider is on the scooter and which is curved when the rider was not on the scooter. The curvature of the flexible foot pad provided improved absorption of the sun's rays.

In one embodiment solar powered electric motorized scooter is provided for use with a battery, the solar powered electric motorized scooter comprising a base which includes sides, a flexible foot pad which has a margin, the margin attached to one side of the base, a plurality of flexible solar cells mounted on the flexible foot pad, an electric motor which is in electrical communication with the flexible solar cells, a front wheel, a back wheel, the wheels rotatably disposed on the base and in motive communication with the motor, a steering tube rotatably mounted to the base and attached to a bracket that retains the axle of the front wheel and a handlebar, which terminates the steering tube, wherein the flexible foot pad is configured to flatten under the pressure of a rider and to curve upward when not under pressure of the rider.

The solar powered electric motorized scooter may further comprise a biasing member which is disposed between the flexible foot pad and the base and biases the flexible foot pad upward.

The solar powered electric motorized scooter may further comprise a multiplicity of fold lines on the flexible foot pad, positioned between the flexible solar cells.

The solar powered electric motorized scooter may further comprise the battery, the battery in electrical communication with the solar cells and with the motor.

In another embodiment, a solar powered electric motorized scooter is provided for use with a battery, the solar powered electric motorized scooter comprising a base, a slider in slidable engagement with the base, a flexible foot pad which has a margin, the margin abutting the slider, a plurality of flexible solar cells mounted on the flexible foot pad, an electric motor which is in electrical communication with the flexible solar cells, a front wheel, a back wheel, the wheels rotatably disposed on the base and in motive communication with the motor, a steering tube rotatably mounted to the base and attached to a bracket that retains the axle of the front wheel and a handlebar, which terminates the steering tube, wherein the flexible foot pad is configured to flatten under the pressure of a rider and to curve upward when not under pressure of the rider.

The solar powered electric motorized scooter may further comprise the battery, the battery in electrical communication with the solar cells and with the motor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a solar powered electric motorized scooter.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3A is a front-end view of yet another alternative embodiment of FIG. 1 ; and FIG. 3B is a close up showing how the slider moves in and out.

FIG. 4 is a side view of another alternative embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a solar powered electric motorized scooter with a user positioned on the scooter.

DESCRIPTION

Except as otherwise expressly provided, the following rules of interpretation apply to this specification (written description and claims): (a) all words used herein shall be construed to be of such gender or number (singular or plural) as the circumstances require; (b) the singular terms “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in the specification and the appended claims include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise; (c) the antecedent term “about” applied to a recited range or value denotes an approximation within the deviation in the range or value known or expected in the art from the measurements method; (d) the words “herein”, “hereby”, “hereof”, “hereto”, “hereinbefore”, and “hereinafter”, and words of similar import, refer to this specification in its entirety and not to any particular paragraph, claim or other subdivision, unless otherwise specified; (e) descriptive headings are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any part of the specification; and (f) “or” and “any” are not exclusive and “include” and “including” are not limiting. Further, the terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted.

Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Where a specific range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is included therein. All smaller sub ranges are also included. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges are also included therein, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used, the acceptable methods and materials are now described.

As shown in FIG. 1 , a solar powered electric motorized scooter, generally referred to as (36004) has a flexible foot pad (36001) which is shown in the curved position. In this position, the flexible foot pad (36001) collects the greatest amount of energy from the sun. The flexible foot pad (36001) is at least partially covered with one or more flexible solar cells (36008). It is attached along one margin to the base (36012). In one embodiment, there is a biasing member (36010) which is located between the base (36012) and the flexible foot pad which biases the flexible foot pad (36001). The biasing member (36010) causes the flexible foot pad (36001) to curve upward when there is no pressure exerted on it by a user, thus allowing the scooter (36004) to capture the sun rays best when not in use. The scooter (36004) comprises two wheels (36002, 36003) which are rotatably mounted on the base (36012) of the scooter (36004) and a handlebar (36005) rotatably mounted via a steering tube (36014) to the base (36012). As would be known to one skilled in the art, the steering tube (36014) is attached to a bracket that retains the axle of the front wheel so as to allow the wheel to be turned side to side. The battery (36016) is in electrical communication with both the solar cells (36008) and the motor (36018). The motor is in motive communication with the wheels (36002), (36003).

As shown in FIG. 2 , in another embodiment, there is no biasing member and the flexible foot pad (36001) is sufficiently resilient to return to the curved position when the user steps off the scooter (36004).

As shown in FIG. 3A, in another embodiment the flexible foot pad (36001) has little memory or no memory and the curved position is maintained by side sliders (36020).

A close-up view is shown as an inset in FIG. 3B showing how the slider (36020) moves inside (36112) or outside (36114). When moving inside, pressure is imposed on the flexible foot pad (36001) and it curves. When pressure is applied to the flexible foot pad (36001), the sliders move to the outside letting the flexible foot pad (36001) flatten.

As shown in FIG. 4 , in another embodiment, the flexible foot pad (36001) has fold lines (36040) is additionally foldable about the flexible solar cells (36008). In this manner, the area for collecting solar radiation is increased over the surface area of the flattened flexible foot pad (36001).

As shown in FIG. 5 , in all embodiments, the flexible foot pad (36001) is flattened when there is a user (36006) positioned on the flexible foot pad (36001).

While example embodiments have been described in connection with what is presently considered to be an example of a possible most practical and/or suitable embodiment, it is to be understood that the descriptions are not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the example embodiment. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific example embodiments specifically described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed in the scope of the claims, if appended hereto or subsequently filed. 

1. A solar powered electric motorized scooter for use with a battery, the solar powered electric motorized scooter comprising a base which includes sides, a flexible foot pad which has a margin, the margin attached to the base on one side, a plurality of flexible solar cells mounted on the flexible foot pad, an electric motor which is in electrical communication with the flexible solar cells, a front wheel, a back wheel, the wheels rotatably disposed on the base and in motive communication with the motor, a steering tube rotatably mounted to the base and attached to a bracket that retains the axle of the front wheel and a handlebar, which terminates the steering tube, wherein the flexible foot pad is configured to flatten under the pressure of a rider and to curve upward when not under pressure of the rider.
 2. The solar powered electric motorized scooter of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member which is disposed between the flexible foot pad and the base and biases the flexible foot pad upward.
 3. The solar powered electric motorized scooter of claim 1, wherein the flexible foot pad further includes a multiplicity of fold lines which are located about the flexible solar cells.
 4. The solar powered electric motorized scooter of any one of claim 1, further comprising the battery, the battery in electrical communication with the solar cells and with the motor.
 5. A solar powered electric motorized scooter for use with a battery, the solar powered electric motorized scooter comprising a base, a slider in slidable engagement with the base, a flexible foot pad which has a margin, the margin abutting the slider, a plurality of flexible solar cells mounted on the flexible foot pad, an electric motor which is in electrical communication with the flexible solar cells, a front wheel, a back wheel, the wheels rotatably disposed on the base and in motive communication with the motor, a steering tube rotatably mounted to the base and attached to a bracket that retains the axle of the front wheel and a handlebar, which terminates the steering tube, wherein the flexible foot pad is configured to flatten under the pressure of a rider and to curve upward when not under pressure of the rider.
 6. The solar powered electric motorized scooter of claim 5, further comprising the battery, the battery in electrical communication with the solar cells and with the motor. 